I got to jump on the Fantasy Alarm show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio Wednesday, and it was awesome. I want to thank Howard Bender for having me on to talk about fantasy basketball, DFS and this very article. It was my first time on the radio since I was part of an awesome sports talk show on WZND Radio at Illinois State University. I always wanted to get back on the radio, but I hadn’t realized how much I missed it until I was back on.
I was a bit nervous at first, but quickly fell back into my old groove. As I told one of my buddies who was good enough to stay up and listen even though he doesn’t like sports, it felt natural. It felt the same as when I get back into running after a long layoff. I imagine it is similar to how NBA players feel when they return to the court for the first time following an injury.
In a week in which it seems like every player is day-to-day with some vague, nagging injury, there were actually several players who returned to the court in a big way. Before we get to those, however, we begin our weekly look at NBA Injuries with some of the most important big men in fantasy.
Anthony Davis did not play Friday with a toe injury. It seems the Pelicans are just being cautious with an injury that is not particularly serious, but it could still keep him out Sunday at Toronto. Ryan Anderson started for Davis and played a few extra minutes, but struggled along with most of his teammates. If you have been playing him you should continue to do so, but I wouldn’t rush out to start him.
Jrue Holiday was out Friday as well, the second game he has missed with an ankle injury. Eric Gordon has averaged 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in those two games, and he has at least 12 points in five consecutive games. As I pointed out in my schedule article Gordon is a good play next week regardless, but he is especially attractive if Holiday is out.
Kevin Love did not play Friday after struggling through back spasms in Thursday’s game. Tristan Thompson has a season-high 24 points to go with 12 rebounds and two blocks with Love out Friday. Thompson is a must-start with Love out, though Love could play Monday against the Bulls.
Joakim Noah seems less likely to play in that game, though little is actually known about the ankle injury he suffered Wednesday. As always, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic are pretty good fantasy plays with Noah out. The Bulls have been outrebounded 88 to 69 over the last two games, so be sure to play opposing big men against them at least until Noah returns.
Carmelo Anthony returned Thursday to score 25 points against the Bucks in London. Now that Anthony has gotten the added exposure from playing in London, he really has nothing else to play for except maybe the All-Star Game. He is expected to play Monday against the Pelicans, but at this point he might miss more games than he plays. Langston Galloway had played well for the Knicks with Anthony out, and he could be worth a pickup if Anthony is finally shut down for the season.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are about to be very interesting. Ricky Rubio, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic all returned to practice this week, though they could all be a week or more away from returning to game action. They should get back around the same time as Shabazz Muhammad, who is expected to miss another week or two with an abdominal injury. Mo Williams should be dropped as soon as Rubio, Martin or Muhammad returns, and Muhammad is probably droppable as well. Look for the Timberwolves to make at least one trade once everyone is back healthy.
The Hornets are an absolute mess right now for fantasy, though there is some good news. Al Jefferson is targeting Wednesday’s game against the Heat for his return from a groin injury. Even if he misses Wednesday’s game he should return soon after. Bismack Biyombo has averaged 25.1 minutes per game over the last 15 days, but he should be dropped when Jefferson returns.
Lance Stephenson returned from a pelvic sprain to score eight points in 18 minutes Wednesday, but Charlotte will need him to carry a heavier load Saturday. Kemba Walker will miss Saturday’s game as he deals with a cyst in his knee. He should be considered day-to-day. Gary Neal returned to practice Friday, and it looks like he will back up Brian Roberts at point guard Saturday. Gerald Henderson should play as well though he could be limited as he deals with flu-like symptoms. This team should probably be avoided until Walker, Jefferson and Stephenson are healthy, or until the Hornets trade Stephenson.
Dwayne Wade missed Miami’s last two games with a hamstring issue, and like just about everyone else in the NBA, he is day-to-day going forward. Shabazz Napier started both games with Wade out and averaged 11 points, 5.5 assists and four rebounds. His upside is limited, but he can be useful in deep leagues with Wade out. The Heat have three days off before facing the Thunder at home Tuesday, which could give Wade the time he needs to get healthy.
Tobias Harris has missed the last four games, and Evan Fournier has played 25 minutes the last two games after missing the two before that. Their teammates have been great for fantasy over that span as Nikola Vucevic, Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton have averaged 27.5, 24.8 and 14 points respectively over the last four games. Vucevic and Oladipo are legitimate fantasy starters, while Payton is a starter only until Harris returns or if someone in Orlando’s backcourt is traded. Vucevic’s fantasy value will likely take a hit when Aaron Gordon returns. Gordon was held out Friday despite being cleared to play, though he should return any day now. He should not be owned in single-season leagues, though he is worth keeping an eye on.
Rudy Gay and Carl Landry were out Friday with knee and wrist injuries respectively. It was Gay’s second missed game in a row, and Derrick Williams has averaged 11 points and eight rebounds in those games. Omri Casspi returned Friday after missing six games with a knee injury, but as long as Gay and Landry are out, Williams is a nice play for daily games and in deep leagues. Casspi is worth a look in those formats as well, though he is a riskier play.
DeMar DeRozan returned Wednesday after missing six weeks with a groin injury. Lou Williams, Terrence Ross and James Johnson should be dropped in all but the deepest leagues.
DeRozan seems to have found his form quickly, scoring 45 points in his two games back. I was happy I was able to find my form on the radio as well. Now if only I could find my form in my writing, we would all be better off. At least the fantasy picks on made with Howard turned out well.